Learndirect has a network of learning centres in England and Wales, and also run some courses online. Since the establishment of learndirect, more than 3.5 million learners have enrolled in courses.[2] In 2004, only an average of 65% of students completed their courses.[3]

The House of CommonsCommittee of Public Accounts undertook a review of the programme in 2005-2006; it found that the programme had received a total of £930 million in public funding, and was critical of the poor involvement of businesses, the high cost of marketing, and the low number of learners recorded as meeting their training objectives.[4]

In recent years, the number of learndirect centres has been in decline, though there have been significant improvements in the numbers of learners meeting their learning aims, and learner feedback to Ufi Ltd currently stands at over 90% nationally. Ufi announced in late 2009 that it would be unable to sustain the network of centres due to proposed budget cuts. An agreement was subsequently reached with the newly established Skills Funding Agency, allowing for a smaller network of centres, with the closure of some between July and August 2010.

According to The Independent, Ufi Ltd was included within a list compiled by the new government of quangos which it sought to abolish.[5] The company and the Learndirect brand were bought by LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, on 4 October 2011.[6] Learndirect became an independent training provider competing in the open market and Ufi Ltd became a charitable trust. Learndirect Scotland became part of Skills Development Scotland and was renamed "My World of Work".